Lots of questions on Kayak fishing

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned access, but there are many places where fishing from a kayak provides you with quick access. A few places in mind such as, Big Sur or Bolinas, where it can take you 1+ hours to reach the fishing grounds by boat. I think it is the versatility, accessibility and exercise that i enjoy most about this sport. 

Hello all,
I've enjoyed intermittent fishing over the years for many different kinds from trout to stripers sturgeon and salmon mostly in the delta and sac and feather river. I stumbled on the kayak fishing sport by accident and am totally blown away how cool it looks. I guess the main question I had was, with the money it takes to buy a respectable kayak and set up, why not just buy a used boat for close to if not the same money? Im not bashing on them at all, just trying to understand what the draw is to kayak fishing

Hi Schweb
I got into kayak fishing unintentionally during free diving trips.
I have done all kind of fishing from fly fishing from a float tube to marline fishing off a power boat.
You feel like sitting in the ocean and catching fish.  My wife and I enjoy so much we got three different kayaks and our Zodiac RIB has been sitting around for the last two years.

My recommendation is to try ocean rock fishing for a day with a well-experienced guide or friend.  I introduced my wife to kayak fishing two years ago and now she wants to go fishing more than I do.

I've had an both an ocean style kayak and 17' bass boat for years.  I'm about to sell the bass boat and get a couple fishing yaks for my kids and myself.

The bass boat is nice with way more room and creature comforts but, it's just more hassle than I like to deal with when it's NOT on the water.
*Garage space
*Maintenance, boat and trailer especially in salt
*Fuel to tow it
*55mph speed limit when towing
*Worried about every scuff or scrape in the paint
*Takes more time to hook-up, tow and get in the water
*My family keeps throwing shit in the boat for storage while garaged!!!!

Yak list
*Easy and quick to load/unload
*Super easy to repair if I manage to damage the hull or need to weld a hole shut
*No worries about who hops in the boats when camping (damage concerns)
*Hose it out and wipe it down every few outings, minimal maintenance
*I can paddle away from my kids or wife when they start talking too much 
*Bit of excercise
*Quiet!!!!!!

If you have room and enough time to deal with a big boat I say go for it.  I'm getting to be and old fart and sometimes "less is more" for me.  Go rent a yak for the day and see if it's something you enjoy before you buy. 

This forum is exponentially more enjoyable (my perspective) than the ones frequented by power boaters (fishsniffer and finaddicts.us for example). Having a kayak will allow you to be a part of the discussion, rather than a bystander. I think everyone else has pretty much captured the myriad of additional benefits that prompted many of us to take the leap into "the madness".

I still enjoy the boat trips with my dad and other family members who own powerboats, but more and more frequently opt to bring my kayak and a radio and let someone else take what would have been my spot in the boat. Very few places I cannot get to in the kayak that the power boaters can.

One additional thought, the ability to customize a kayak to your personal preference is greater than that of many boats, plus it is a bunch of fun to tinker with accessories, rigs, layout etc...

I'm only in freshwater lakes and an occasional trip to the delta on my kayak (which I have only had for 1 year).  As a newbie, i love being on the water especially being able to get to places that aren't accessible by foot (the other side of the lake) and areas that some boats wont fit.  (Some bass boats can just about cover the same area as a kayak).  The pitfall is that being the smaller and slower than a PB, I am limited to the amount of water I can cover whereas a PB can cover a lot more ground or get to a new spot so much faster.  Also, summertime on a lake is like being in rush hour traffic at times; which can take away from the serenity of paddling.  (Smaller/slower - so I find that I spend half my time on a lake fishing and the other half dealing with the wakes of powerboats flying by until I can get inside a 5mph zone)

I will say, that the community of kayakers and paddleboarders is great.  Everyone helps each other out when possible and are generally friendly toward each other. 

Wow such great info. I really appreciate all of the different perspectives very much. Also what a great community of like minded people that just love to be outside!

I have boats and kayaks, each is a tool and has its place.

For the price tags I’ve seen on some of the heavily outfitted freshwater bass kayaks, there’s no way in hell its a better or more versatile craft than a small runabout (thinking 10-12 Livingston, or even a nicer aluminum boat) with a 7-10hp 4 stroke.  These dudes ain’t bank launching, they’re confined to a ramp too and those tubs take an hour to rig up.  Then you have the limited range, lack of mobility/maneuverability and they weigh a ton.  They seem like a fun if you have the scratch and need another toy but if I’m droppin 3-4 g birds on a plastic boat it better come with the hotties that spiffy boy is searching for.

 

A picture is worth 1000 words

A picture is worth 1000 words

A power boat trip at that spot is pretty darn special too tho.

A picture is worth 1000 words

A power boat trip at that spot is pretty darn special too tho.

Ya but 4-5 of those and the kayaks paid for, I think I have been out at Pacific City 30+ times.

There’s something primal about a bloody deck , probably even more so  for the divers in the club being just feet away from their take.

Whether you paddle or  pedal, stay above or go below, use hook and line or spear, there’s people from all walks of life here.

It all adds to the flavor of the Ciopinno

A picture is worth 1000 words

Yep and yep.

#kayaksrule

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

A picture is worth 1000 words

A power boat trip at that spot is pretty darn special too tho.

Ya but 4-5 of those and the kayaks paid for, I think I have been out at Pacific City 30+ times.

True but if I was to ever suggest to someone what it’s like to have a kayak fish experience in a power bot, I would send them on a dory charter out of PC. That’s also the highest user conflict place on the whole coast.

I’ll be up in three months. Let’s take a trip out of PC on the kayaks if you can get away.

A picture is worth 1000 words

A power boat trip at that spot is pretty darn special too tho.

Ya but 4-5 of those and the kayaks paid for, I think I have been out at Pacific City 30+ times.

True but if I was to ever suggest to someone what it’s like to have a kayak fish experience in a power bot, I would send them on a dory charter out of PC. That’s also the highest user conflict place on the whole coast.

I’ll be up in three months. Let’s take a trip out of PC on the kayaks if you can get away.

As long as the ocean cooperates I’m good to go.

power boat fishing and kayak fishing are not exclusive to each other.  Each has it's own place.  I have done both and would still do both if I could afford to do both.  Given the option, I choose kayak fishing.  However, if I want to take my wife or other family fishing, I'm limited to the shore.  I don't have the money or time to teach multiple family how to kayak fish.  A boat would make more sense when I don't want to be selfish with my fishing time.  When I had the boat, my wife would join me and we'd spend quality time on the water; she reading a book or playing net girl as I fished.  We enjoyed each other's company.  Now with kayak fishing, it's singular.  She has a kayak, but it's just not her thing. 
As my family is quick to tell me; I am NUTS to go out on the big ocean in a plastic toy!!  They especially like to point out there are things that can eat me out there.  Maybe that's part of the adventure; I am not the top of the food chain and I have more to be aware of than just catching fish, I have to aware not to be caught myself.